Azeem Tariq Malik1, Jae Baek1, John H Alexander2, Safdar N Khan3, Thomas J Scharschmidt4. 1. Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, United States; Division of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Department of Orthopaedics, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, United States. 2. Division of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Department of Orthopaedics, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, United States. 3. Division of Spine, Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, United States. 4. Division of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Department of Orthopaedics, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, United States. Electronic address: Thomas.scharschmidt@osumc.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Spinal metastases are routinely managed and/or operated on by both orthopaedic surgeons and neurological surgeons. However, controversy still exists as to whether the operating surgeon's specialty has an impact on post-operative complication rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The 2007-2017 Humana Administrative Claims database was queried using Current Procedural Terminology codes to identify patients undergoing fusions, laminectomies or osteotomy/corpectomy for spinal metastases. Physician taxonomy codes were used to identify the operating surgeon's specialty (orthopaedic vs. neurosurgery). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess difference in 90-day complications, readmissions and mortality between the two specialties while controlling for age, gender, race, co-morbidity burden, procedural characteristics (fusion, laminectomy and/or osteotomy/corpectomy) and type of primary cancer. RESULTS: A total of 887 patients undergoing surgical intervention for spinal metastases were included - out of which 204 (23.0 %) patients were operated on by orthopaedic surgeons and 683 (77.0 %) by neurosurgeons. Following adjustment for difference in patient demographics and baseline clinical characteristics, no statistically significant differences were noted between the two specialties with regards to wound complications (p = 0.992), pulmonary complications (p = 0.461), cardiac complications (p = 0.631), thrombotic complications (p = 0.177), sepsis (p = 0.463), pneumonia (p = 0.767), urinary tract infection (p = 0.916), acute renal failure (p = 0.934), hardware complications (p = 0.892), emergency department visits (p = 0.934), 90-day readmissions (p = 0.277) and 90-day mortality (p = 0.786). CONCLUSIONS: Based off our findings, it appears that a surgeon's specialty has no influence on intermediate-term complications following surgical intervention for spinal metastases. The findings of the study should support the need for maintaining access of patients to both specialties for appropriate surgical consultation.
OBJECTIVES:Spinal metastases are routinely managed and/or operated on by both orthopaedic surgeons and neurological surgeons. However, controversy still exists as to whether the operating surgeon's specialty has an impact on post-operative complication rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The 2007-2017 Humana Administrative Claims database was queried using Current Procedural Terminology codes to identify patients undergoing fusions, laminectomies or osteotomy/corpectomy for spinal metastases. Physician taxonomy codes were used to identify the operating surgeon's specialty (orthopaedic vs. neurosurgery). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess difference in 90-day complications, readmissions and mortality between the two specialties while controlling for age, gender, race, co-morbidity burden, procedural characteristics (fusion, laminectomy and/or osteotomy/corpectomy) and type of primary cancer. RESULTS: A total of 887 patients undergoing surgical intervention for spinal metastases were included - out of which 204 (23.0 %) patients were operated on by orthopaedic surgeons and 683 (77.0 %) by neurosurgeons. Following adjustment for difference in patient demographics and baseline clinical characteristics, no statistically significant differences were noted between the two specialties with regards to wound complications (p = 0.992), pulmonary complications (p = 0.461), cardiac complications (p = 0.631), thrombotic complications (p = 0.177), sepsis (p = 0.463), pneumonia (p = 0.767), urinary tract infection (p = 0.916), acute renal failure (p = 0.934), hardware complications (p = 0.892), emergency department visits (p = 0.934), 90-day readmissions (p = 0.277) and 90-day mortality (p = 0.786). CONCLUSIONS: Based off our findings, it appears that a surgeon's specialty has no influence on intermediate-term complications following surgical intervention for spinal metastases. The findings of the study should support the need for maintaining access of patients to both specialties for appropriate surgical consultation.
Authors: Waseem Wahood; Alex Yohan Alexander; Yagiz Ugur Yolcu; Waleed Brinjikji; David F Kallmes; Giuseppe Lanzino; Mohamad Bydon Journal: Neurointervention Date: 2021-02-04